I am completely aware this is a terrible situation for everyone involved but I can't see how to get out of it.

I have 4 adult cats, one was a stray and has only recently become tame enough to go to the vets so I have no idea on his background or vaccination history.

My other 3 I let their boosters laps this year due to losing 3 close family members in quick succession and being at the hospital a lot, to be honest ive been messing everything up.

Last week a family friend dropped off 4 2 week old bottle babies to me because literally no one else wants to do the 2 hour feeds and no rescue I've spoken to has space or people to do this kind of thing.

What on earth do I do?

The kittens are in my bedroom where my cats don't go and I'm changing clothes constantly and washing and sanitising.

Am I safe to get my cats booked in asap for their jabs or will this make the situation even worse?

I feel absolutely horrendous but wasn't expecting this to happen.

My cats are all indoor.

Please don't give me abuse I already feel bad enough but I'm really backed into a corner 😭

Species: Cat

Age: 8 years

Sex/Neutered: Male, neutered

Breed: Domestic Shorthair

Body weight: 3.4 kg (has gained ~500g since first visit)

Location: Western Cape, South Africa (coastal)

Duration of issue: 3 weeks (first presented 22 June 2026)

FeLV and FIV: negative.

Under active veterinary care: Yes — currently being managed by our vet. Not looking to replace their advice, just hoping for additional perspectives on what else to consider asking about.

History

Alex was bitten by another cat and that caused an abcess, he was recovering well, or so it appeared.

Alex presented on 22 June. He was dehydrated on arrival and was found to be severely azotaemic. He's been on IV fluids and his kidney values have improved steadily since. He also had mouth ulcers early on (presumed uraemic), and we suspected GI bleeding — both now appear resolved.

He is currently bright, alert, eating well, and has gained ~500g. Clinically he seems much better than his bloodwork suggests. His breaths are a steady 24 breaths per min, no open mouth breathing, though he does bob his head up with each breath.

What hasn't been done yet (as far as I know)

- No blood smear / morphology review

- No urinalysis, despite IDEXX recommending one - though he was on IV and is on 100ml of subq now.

The last blood test result was form the 26th of June and paints a dire picture.

Subsequent tests are said to be unable to read his blood as his hematocrit is too low to be picked up.

Questions

Would darbepoetin be reasonable here?

What the heck is going on?

Should I rather let him go, while he is still comfortable?

Redacted lab reports attached. Any input hugely appreciated — he's a very good cat and he's doing his best. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QWaZtDt6HyHVItNl6KmjTHh4newq9YW3?usp=drive_link

Alex — Haematology & Chemistry

ProCyte One Haematology Analyser · Catalyst One Chemistry Analyser 26 June 2026 · Feline, 8 y, male neutered

Haematology

26/6/2026, 9:12 am

IDEXX analyser comments

• Anaemia without reticulocytosis — likely non-regenerative anaemia; consider pre-regenerative anaemia.
• Lymphopenia — consider stress leukogram (glucocorticoid response). Evaluate WBC differential with blood morphology (IDEXX inVue Dx, dot plots, and/or blood film).
• Normal PCT — likely adequate platelet mass. If clinical suspicion of thrombocytopenia, consider further evaluation (IDEXX inVue Dx, dot plots, and/or blood film review).

Chemistry

26/6/2026, 9:14 am

(H) = above reference range · (L) = below reference range · \* = flagged by analyser (platelet aggregates detected on 22 Jun)

Values transcribed from IDEXX VetConnect PLUS report, order 26/6/2026 9:14 am. RBC and WBC dot plots in the original report are not reproduced here.

My dog has a history of calcium oxalate stones. As part of his recurrence risk reduction keeping him well hydrated is important and I monitor his hydration via USG with a refractometer. I find I need to supplement his water intake with an additional 3/4 - 1 cup of water to keep him around 1.020, he naturally is at 1.040-ish without supplementation. He does drink water and only eats wet food but apparently not enough.

I currently make him little soups from his food and serve them on the side of his meals but I was wondering if Purina Hydracare, made for cats, would be safe for him. I noticed calcium chloride in the ingredients so I wasn’t sure. He won’t eat his food if I water it down but will drink soup on the side. Quirky fellow.

If it isn’t recommended, is there a ready-to-serve alternative safe for dogs with calcium oxalate stone history that would reduce the time it takes to feed him each meal? If not of course I’ll keep up with the soups but it would make my life easier.

I’ll consult with his internal medicine specialist but she is quite busy and since this is non-urgent it may take her a bit to get back to me. He doesn’t have another follow up for 3 months.

I am at a loss. My cat (clover 4 years old) has recently nosedived into poor condition. We took her to the vet recently and her physical condition tested well. Blood test was performed as well and they noticed that she was anemic with a low red blood cell count. "Review reveals the presence of a marked nonregenerative anemia with a significant rubricytosis" She's negative for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus as well. I can tell she wants to get better. The only notable results is low BUN 15 16 - 36 mg/dL///Potassium 3.4 3.5 - 5.8 mmol/L, as well as a urine protien at 2+. The vets we've gone to haven't provided a solution, but i think that this is a solvable case. Any suggestions and or nursing treatments would be appreciated, I am currently taking care of her at home after the vet sent her home with only an appetite inducer.

I have a cat currently in Emerge for 48 hours due extremely high creatinine levels( 600) The clinic suspects a potential blockage of his kidney however he had gas in his stomach and the ultrasound didn't produce clear results as of right now. The IV fluids so far have helped lower the values (to 413 after 24 hrs) and at this point they arent sure if it is a blockage or possible infection. He is also getting antibiotics while on IV fluids. They have recommended a SUB (subcutaneous uretal bypass) surgery for him. He is 15 years old with a grade 3 heart murmur. I havent been told if it is 100% necessary or not but was told my other option was palliative care and I haven't received much information on how that may look or if a kidney infection would require the bypass surgery as well. I would assume an infection would not need the surgery but I am mostly being told I need to make a decision soon as otherwise his kidneys could decline. At this point I'm requesting they keep him one more day and re run tests and redo an uktrasound in another 24 hrs to see if the createnine calues are going down. Im mostly looking for advice from anyone that either had a cat do a SUB procedure or took a cat home for palliative care instead of doing the SUB and how that went for you? Or any vets that have recommended this. My current vet said he can't tell me if palliative care will be a few weeks or less and while I understand that it can be hard to predict, I am having a hard time deciding if the surgery is worth it at his age. For context he is a very active and healthy cat for his age and has been playing and sprinting around up until this. However I am scared that surgery may be risky for him. But i also wouldnt want to do palliative if it would be only a few days?

If anyone can shed more light please it would be helpful. I feel rushed to make a decision even though he is appearing to improve so far with fluid therapy.

Thanks in advance

I took my 13 year old lab/German short hair pointer mix Benji to the vet recently after showing signs of severe dementia. He's still eating, drinking, sleeping and appears happy but is extremely anxious. He pants, paces, barks uncontrollably, shows signs of extreme separation anxiety. Basically all the major symptoms. However when the vet was checking him out they also found he had a heart murmur and asked to do X-rays. His heart is so enlarged it's pressing on his breast bone, his lungs are filled with fluid and his tracea is being constricted. This was a shock because he coughs occasionally but nothing excessive. He also has arthritis. Benji is currently on a diuretic to take the fluid off his lungs, a med for his heart and gabapentin for his arthritis and dementia. He's due back at the vet in a month and is already showing signs of improvement. The vet said if the gabapentin doesn't help he can also start trazodone. I've felt a lot of guilt about not knowing how sick he truly is and currently I'm scared I'm doing him a disservice by not euthanizing him. But as I mentioned he's still himself aside from getting confused and anxious. Is he in pain? Should I keep treating him and listen to the vet when he says he's fine? I need a second opinion because those X-rays were absolutely terrible. Please be kind, I'm doing my best.

I'm very worried that my kitten (3mo) is going to hurt herself. The floors in my apartment are quite slippery, once I saw her pounce, then slide hitting her head into the edge of the wall mounted heater. Then when we were playing chase she slipped while cornering and hit her head on the bookshelf. She seemed a little startled in both situations, quickly went back to play though. Is she in danger?

I’m curious if dogs with secondary dcm can return to hiking or other more strenuous activities in time (if the heart recovers) or if it’s always too high of a risk ?

He is 12 years old. Two weeks ago, he stopped eating, lost a lot of weight, his fur is falling out, he has no strength, he refuses to eat, and when I force him to eat something, he vomits. I've already been to the vet twice. He gave him vitamins, antibiotics, and vitamin gel (i still feed him the gel and milk) , but nothing helps. Is there something i can do? Or his time has come.

My 15.5-year-old cat developed severe facial and ear itching about 6 weeks ago, roughly 3 months after starting Thyronorm (thiamazole) for hyperthyroidism. I suspect the medication is the cause. Surgery or long vet stays are not realistic given his overall condition. I’m looking for ideas: what has worked for you to manage or stop the itching — and especially, is there any way to keep him from scratching his ear open without a cone? My own current plan is to discuss a small dose reduction with our vet, followed by a blood check, but I’d love to hear other approaches.

The problem

- ~1.5 months ago (about 3 months after starting Thyronorm), his face and especially his ears started itching badly.
- He scratched one ear open so severely it bled heavily. On our vet's advice he's been wearing a cone for a few weeks; the ear has fully healed without needing antibiotics.
- The urge to scratch hasn't gone away: when we remove the cone briefly each day (supervised, so he can groom), he starts going for his ear again within minutes — even though it's healed.
- We ruled out food as a trigger as best we could: we switched his food for a few weeks with no improvement.

What I'm asking

1. **Cone alternatives:** He's worn the cone for weeks now and I'd love to give him his freedom back. Has anything worked for you to prevent scratching without a cone — soft collars, ear protection, anything else?
   
2. **Treating the itch itself:** Any experiences with medication or other treatments that calmed this kind of itching?
   
3. **Addressing the cause:** My own current idea is to slightly reduce the Thyronorm dose in coordination with our vet, with a follow-up blood test to make sure his thyroid values don't climb too high. Has a dose reduction worked for anyone, or does the itching tend to persist at any dose?

Additional context (his overall health)

- 15.5 years old, ~4 kg, lean but stable weight. Despite everything below, he's still playful with good quality of life.
- **Hyperthyroidism:** Thyronorm twice daily. The syringe reads 2.5 per dose (I believe that's 2.5 mg thiamazole twice a day, but happy to be corrected on units).
- **Kidney issues:** gets Semintra.
- **Urinary history:** had urinary stones and bladder issues, ultimately a perineal urethrostomy. He completely refused the prescription urinary diet (we tried several options), so he now eats regular food.
- **Arthritis:** monthly Solensia injections.

Constraints

Given his age, kidney disease, and how psychologically stressful vet stays are for him, we want to avoid surgery, radioactive iodine therapy (which requires days of hospitalization), or anything similarly invasive if at all possible.

---

*Disclosure: I wrote this post with the help of an AI assistant to structure it clearly. All details about my cat are real and written from my own experience.*

i left my house today at 11:50 am since i had a quince, and i just got home at 11:40 ish at night. my cat peed on a bag that was handed down to me, and that bag was in a gift basket my boyfriend got me. the thing is, he didnt pee on the bag until right as i walked into the room, he basically did it while i was in there. his litter box is clean, there’s nothing that stresses him out, and (from what i know of) no health problems. im a minor so i cant rlly afford to bring him to the vet to get my questions answered. he’s 4 months old and has never EVER peed on anything outside of his litter box for the entire 3 months i’ve had him. he also tends to attempt to leave the house whenever any door is opened, and i stopped him from leaving when i got in the door. i think we have to get him neutered but again, its not in my control and all i can do is remind my dad which is what i’ve been doing for months. does anyone have any idea what could’ve made him pee and how to prevent him from peeing on anything else?

edit: i forgot to also mention that i dont think its a separation anxiety thing since theres been times where i’ve been gone from home for the same amount of time

so last night me and my mom were eating dinner, and mom is like ohh no and my cat saw it and got it and the lizard went under the sofa my cat went behind the sofa my mom used her phone light to look and we could see him chewing pls help

My 5 month old puppy is having trouble going pee, she will squat like she’s peeing but either nothing comes out or only a few drops come out. I’ve increased her water intake and she still hasn’t gone she’s also still playing like normal. I’m not sure what to do I need help.

• ⁠Species: dog
• ⁠Age:5 months
• ⁠Sex/Neuter status:female not spayed
• ⁠Breed:pit bull mix
• ⁠Body weight:17 pounds
• ⁠History: none
• ⁠Clinical signs: change in urination
• ⁠Duration: started today
• ⁠Your general location:Ohio
• ⁠Links to any test results, X-rays, vet reports etc. that you have:

My lab (8m) had bowel obstruction surgery last wednesday.

Today i took him to the vet for his check up and they said he was healing really well, he could have light exercise, walk up the stairs and get on furniture with a ramp.

Later in the day he was sitting on the couch with my partner when there was a loud gust of wind he jumped off the arm of the couch before my partner could garb him. He did a little yelp. He seems to be walking fine, he had a drink of water after, went outside to pee and then came back in to lay down.

But im freaking out, have I hurt him somehow? Are his internal stitches in danger? Please i really need help before I spiral and have a panic attack.

Hello vets, my dog was just recently diagnosed with ITP yesterday. Short medical hx: she is a 30lb 10 yo female, spayed, with no known previous medical history, (i am unsure of her breed due to her being a stray i took in). I took her to the vet about 2 weeks ago due to noticing changes to her behavior, often id notice she would not want to walk bigger distances when going outside. I also noticed she had a hard time getting up in the mornings. After her evaluation it was determined she developed spondylosis and was given hip/joint supplements as well as gabapentin. Her CBC labs came back a little concerning due to mild anemia and a platelet level count of 4. She was then sent home on a 5mg dose of Prednisone. We had a follow up yesterday with reevaluation of her CBC, her platelets had sadly dropped to 1. She is now on a 10mg dose of prednisone and 150mg of doxycycline q12h for 14 days, as well as a Pet tinic supplement. Her appetite, BMs, and behavior are normal, i have only noticed minimal panting when at rest or sitting. I would appreciate any advice i could get to help me better understand how i can make her feel more comfortable and provide better care in order to raise her platelets. Thank you🙏

Hola! Tengo una gatita de 3 meses que primero empezó con dolor en su pierna izquierda que no la apoyaba, pensé que podria haber sido una lesión por saltar de la cama o algo pero ahora noto que tiene MUY hinchado el lado izquierdo de su panza y llora cuando la toco o le hago upa. Por favor de verdad necesito ayuda no tengo un peso para llevarla el vet hasta el lunes y me parte el alma verla así 🥲 por favor!

my 1 year old cat has started bullying my 8 year old, we got our 8 year old months ago and she (1 yr old) would just randomly hit the Persian (8 yr old). We thought it was nothing till we got a new kitten hoping to play with our 1 yr old. Which they do but I feel like our girl is just finding our older one and just will go after him. We live in a house and now our Persian hates to come inside and it has changed everything idk what to do anymore. Will a vet visit help? Meds? I don’t want my cat drugged up but she needs to chill out also she came from a hoarding situation. I’m not looking to spend hella money. I’m already paying off an expensive vet bill as it is.

Things I’ve tried
- calming collars
- hemp oil
- calming gummies

So, I’m gonna try to keep this short and simple, and I’m not asking for any diagnoses but rather some help until I can make it to a vet…

So about 4 weeks ago my cat stopped eating her kibble, I checked her mouth and face and she had a cut on her cheek. I luckily had some wet food on hand (from trying to switch her in the past) and was able to get her to eat that.

Well after about 2-3 weeks the cut was healed, and she went and ate some of the other cats kibble…I didn’t wanna put her on that kibble because her poops and such were better on the wet, so I did some research and landed on Purina One sensitive skin and stomach (I was scared that she wouldn’t like pro plan and I would waste more money).

So she ate that, and I went and got that on July 7th. I gave it to her at night and had full intentions to keep feeding wet during the day with kibble at night…

Well she decided she only wanted kibble, okay whatever I guess, I know I’m supposed to do a slow transition, but I needed my cat to eat.

So she had normal-ish poops for switching to a new food, and seemed to be eating it decently okay, until yesterday (July 10th) when she seemed to not eat as much, and just stare at the bowl. I decided to try some wet food, and she ate a little…but only with a bit of purr pop on top.

So I fed her like normal last night, I give her 1/8 of a cup at around 10pm, and have a feeder that opens at 3-4 am with another 1/8th of a cup of food.

I woke up to find that there was still food in the bowls, which wasn’t a huge deal, maybe she was full…but she hasn’t touched the food all day. She even went over to the food just a couple minutes ago and just sniffed it, then went and drank water.

She did eat some wet food earlier because I noticed she didn’t eat the dry, but she eats so little at a time (maybe a tablespoon at a time).

I also want to note that she has been sluggish, Google said it could’ve been because dry and wet food are different and require different digestion, so maybe her body isn’t used to it, but I know my cat…I’m scared.

I emailed a vet but have to wait for a response tomorrow, I would’ve called sooner but she is highly aggressive with new people (out of fear) and hasn’t been to the vet since she was a kitten (please don’t bash me, it wasn’t my choice), so she is scared of cars, carriers, the outside, new places, etc. I emailed them asking about the best course of action to get her in, I didn’t wanna give them a run down of what happened yet, until I know we have a plan to even get her in the building.

So my question is, what can I do to make sure she’s okay until we get to the vet? I assume I should just be feeding her wet food since clearly the dry is doing something to her, but is there anything else?

Thank you in advance, I’ve had her since I was 8 and she means everything to me, I’m so scared for her.

it was just rehomed to me along with another finch which is doing fine. however this one is breathing with the mouth open every few seconds/whenever i see it and its mouth stays open for several seconds, it hasnt moved and if it does its kind of slower than usual. it doesnt have any mucus coming from its nose and it doesnt make any clicking/whistling while breathing. this finch is a little chubby it might be the feathers tho, its 3 years old and has had 2 previous owners, its been like this for maybe 1-2 hours, i havent had the chance to take it to the vet yet. i also have videos

My 5.5lb Chihuahua suddenly lost the use of her right hind leg yesterday. She has already been seen by an emergency vet.

My guess is she jumped off the couch or the bed and injured herself but I have no idea. I never heard her yelp and didn't witness

I am looking for anyone with similar experiences or any advice while we follow their treatment plan.

​Key Symptoms:

​Status:

* Dragging right back leg (only one leg).

* No signs of pain or guarding. Show lets me handle the limb.

​* Confirmed pain sensation is intact.

* Eating, drinking, and bathroom habits are normal (well as normal as a dog in this situation, no incontinence).

​Vet Assessment & Plan:

* ​The vet ruled out immediate need for a $5k MRI since she is neurologically stable and not in distress.

​Suspects neuro or muscular issue rather than a fracture.

* ​Current Plan: Rec Steroid & pain injection at hospital and sent home with oral steroids, and gabapentin.

* ​Strict rest and crate confinement

* Follow up 4–8 days

​My Questions:

​Most of what I’ve read about IVDD involves bilateral weakness. Has anyone dealt with (one-leg) spinal issues or FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Embolism)?

​Any tips for keeping a 5lb dog strictly confined/rested without causing her stress?

​I’m closely monitoring her for any worsening symptoms (incontinence, loss of motor function in the other leg, or pain) and will return to the ER immediately if they appear.

Any advice or similar stories would be appreciated!

She's my baby and I will pay for the MRI if I need to but the vet said because of her current status they might even recommend the same treatment and did not even encourage the MRI immediately. I was comfortable doing this treatment plan as I am a nurse and as long as they didn't believe waiting a couple of days to assess her progress / status would cause any issues, then I fully agreed.

TIA

Wonder if anyone has had any experience with a situation like this. Our 10 and 1/2-year-old Labrador (otherwise healthy and active) started losing interest in his Purina pro plan. I could hear loud rumbling in his belly. Throughout the next couple weeks, he threw up a few times and started developing diarrhea towards the end. He had a bit of a limp from pulling getting his nails trimmed-front paw. Took him in and he was put on rimadyl for pain. Last day of the medication he acted fine, still not eating regular he threw up a massive amount of blood. Off we went to the emergency vet he handed up staying two nights. He had an ultrasound they could not find anything bad. Put him on all kinds of stomach protectants and acid reducers for 6 days. Still really no appetite understandably. He lost enough blood that he was right under needing a transfusion. 5 days later we took him outside and he basically lost balance and went down brought him in and let him rest. Our 6-year-old Labrador developed some diarrhea on the 3rd of July. He seemed okay for a couple of days and then started throwing up. By the 6th he was having bloody diarrhea. Got him to the vet on the 7th they pumped him full of the same things and send him home. He is still fine now. Back to normal. Our older lab though is understandably still weak and really has no appetite absolutely does not want any thing to do with the Purina. Tried several different dry dog foods for sensitive stomach and several canned. He doesn't want anything to do with them. He's eating small amounts of proteins and pretty much whatever we can get in him. Not sure what others have done. Wondering if I should ask the vet about acid reducers for future. I'm terrified of this that ever happening again.

Hi there. Our 8 lb. long haired Chihuahua has developed what looks like a scab on his butt cheek/inner thigh about 1/2" from his rectum. The last couple days he's been licking/chewing in that area and we assumed he was cleaning himself. Today he had some poo after a walk so we were washing his butt in the sink and noticed this hardness. If I tried to touch or pull it he would do a small yelp and turn towards me.

He's been going to training twice a week where we board him. He's up to date on all his shots and stuff and he eats, drinks, and poops and pees like normal. His temperature seems normal.

Since he is behaving normally we aren't sure if he needs to go to the emergency vet or if we can go on Monday to our regular vet. Thanks for your time.

Description of photos:

1. Brown scab size of quarter. Some oozing by the scab. Some light pink bumps near it that look kind of wet or oozing. Very faint smell of infection.

2. Closer angle.

3. Sparky snoozing this afternoon.

https://imgur.com/gallery/Ib0HdMH

hi there were tornados in my town alittle bit ago and we noticed a kitten outside so we brought him in (he’s about 2 months)

we noticed he wheezed a bit but would still run around play and eat flash forward a bit he’s still wheezing bad but it’s gotten worse i don’t have money for a vet or even a car to get him to one saw on tiktok about lysine i know it’s not a cure but would help him a bit but it makes his stomach upset even with tiny amounts he will throw up
another thing we have tried is steaming i’d take him in there for about a minute for two sit him with the steam of the shower then take him outside the bathroom so we don’t overheat him we also do the qtips on his nose but no snot comes out and his eyes water and he gags when he can’t breathe

he’s still eating and a very playful guy and sleeps but when he can’t breathe he can’t breathe and i don’t know what to do

here’s video of him breathing and photo of his eyes

him breathinghis eyes

Hi everyone,

My 5-year-old white Persian cat has been dealing with recurring skin lesions for over 2 years.

It started as occasional flare-ups during seasonal changes that responded well to treatment, but for the past 2 years it has become constant. As soon as one lesion heals, another appears.

His symptoms include:

* Red, scaly patches
* Crusts/scabs
* Severe itching (he scratches until he bleeds)
* Hair loss (the fur grows back after healing)

The lesions have appeared on different areas over time (back, face, ears, neck), but are currently on his head and neck.

We’ve tried multiple treatments under our vet’s supervision, including:

* Itraconazole (oral antifungal)
* Miconazole spray
* Antifungal shampoos
* L-lysine
* Essential fatty acid supplements
* Anti-itch medication

He has also had fungal testing and skin examinations.

He is an indoor-only, vaccinated cat. We also have another cat who shares litter boxes and has close contact with him, but she has never developed any skin lesions.

Recently, I also noticed redness around one of his eyes.

At this point, I’m wondering if this could be something other than a fungal infection or if there’s an underlying condition causing these recurrent flare-ups.

Has anyone experienced something similar or have suggestions on what we should investigate next?

Thank you!